All news: Saudi Arabia
Enterprise development
New programme to close digital gap for 15,000 small businesses
The United Nations in the Philippines launched a new joint programme to bridge the digital divide and boost the competitiveness of enterprises through improved connectivity and support from UN agencies, including the ILO and government partners.
ILO Director-General calls for inclusive labour market reform amid global challenges
At the second Global Labour Market Conference, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the urgent need for collective action to tackle decent work deficits and foster equitable opportunities worldwide.
Groundbreaking initiative explores innovating the Desert Economy
Empowering stakeholders and forging multi stakeholders’ partnerships to transform deserts into sustainable hubs for growth.
Interview
Minister AlRajhi: increased Saudi-ILO cooperation fosters decent work, social justice and inclusive development
In an interview with the ILO, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development H.E. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi discusses the Kingdom's vision for its labour market and its joint development programme with the ILO.
Institutional assessment of Saudi Arabia’s Cooperative Societies Council: A path to strengthening cooperatives
In December 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conducted a fact-finding mission as part of its institutional assessment of the Cooperative Societies Council (CSC), the Apex organization for cooperatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...
Safeguarding children in Saudi Arabia: training frontliners to combat child labour
The initiative aims to empower participants to tackle child labour effectively, aligning national efforts with global standards.
ILO-UNEP-IUCN report
Nature-based Solutions can generate up to 32 million new jobs by 2030, but investments in skills needed
Addressing the skills gaps and nature-based infrastructure are crucial to unlock the potentials of decent work creation and environmental benefits of nature-based solutions.
"Employment in focus" Blog
Reflecting on Brazil’s G20 Presidency: Tackling poverty, inequality and financing challenges
Kee Beom Kim, ILO Macro-Economic and Employment Policies Specialist, reflects on the G20 Brazilian Presidency’s initiatives to tackle the challenges of poverty, employment, inequality and financing.
Partnership
ILO and GCC join forces to advance decent work and sustainable development in the Gulf States
The ILO and Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) launched a 2025-2029 plan to tackle labour challenges in the Gulf, focusing on fair wages, gender equality, green jobs, and protections, supporting sustainable development and...
Social dialogue key to addressing the profound changes transforming the world of work
Balancing a competitive and agile labour market with fairness and inclusivity for all will be key to addressing new labour market challenges, says ILO Deputy Regional Director for Arab States Peter Rademaker at an event to promote social dialogue in...
Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators
Interview with Mr. Maan Alangari, General Manager of the General Directorate for Cooperatives within the Ministry of Human Resources and...
“Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators” is a series of interviews with co-operators from around the world with whom ILO officials have crossed paths during the course of their work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE)....
International Labour Standards
Saudi Arabia ratifies the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)
Saudi Arabia is the 65th Member State of the ILO to have ratified this fundamental Convention.
Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In June 2023, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) signed a letter of intent to launch the second phase of their Development Cooperation...
Official visit
ILO Director-General: Saudi labour market reforms pivotal for advancing social justice and development in the Kingdom
Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, accompanied by Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat and the Director-General’s Senior Advisor for Africa and Arab States Chad Blackman, met with government, employer and worker representatives and...
ILO Launches Flagship Study on Extending Social Protection to Migrant Workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries
ILO and IsDB share progress on joint work on socioeconomic and policy impacts of Just Transition in MENA region
ILO FAIRWAY Programme and en.v tackle complex attitudes of employers of domestic workers through experimental project
From February to June 2023, FAIRWAY piloted the creation of the Women’s Circle project in Kuwait – an experimental, community-led project designed by en.v, which focussed on shifting mindsets of Kuwaiti female employers of domestic workers, through...
Strengthening Data of Ethiopian Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia
Enhancing the operational capacity of Ethiopian Diplomatic Missions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A returnee raised her income and improved her skills
Migrant workers who lack proper information usually end up extending their stay, despite their visas having expired, putting them in danger of being classified as irregular/undocumented migrants. Migrants are even more vulnerable in such situations...
Development cooperation between ILO and Saudi Arabia enters new phase
A letter of intent was signed on the side-lines of the International Labour Conference to launch Phase II of a joint ILO-Saudi development cooperation programme, under which the ILO will provide support in analysis, policy and capacity development.